Sandra Pupatello is touting her Windsor roots and her reputation as a “scrapper” in her bid to become Ontario’s next premier.

“There is no question people know I’m from Windsor and that gives me certain attributes,” Pupatello said Wednesday. “I like that they know I’m a scrapper, I’m tough, that I can fight through thick and thin — especially when times are tough.”

Pupatello, who is campaigning for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal party, was shaking hands and giving hugs Wednesday at a gathering of nearly 200 at the Ciociaro Club as Premier Dalton McGuinty announced the Windsor-Essex Parkway would be named in honour of Herb Gray.

Pupatello said she is criss-crossing the province seeking support for her leadership bid.
“l know we have a lot of work to do,” she said. “I understand we have to change and I want to be part of that change.

“I’m telling people I’m about the economy and jobs. Everything else follows when the economy does well.”

She is also tells potential supporters: “What you see, is what you get.

“I have lived for 16 years an MPP telling people the truth,” she said. “It has worked for me in Windsor and I want it to work across Ontario. I need people to know I will fight for them. That I will go worldwide to bring investments here as I did as minister (of economic development and trade).”

Pupatello said fellow candidate Kathleen Wynne is the recognized frontrunner, but that suits her fine.

“I can’t be last or first, but want to be in the middle of the pack,” she said. “That’s exactly where I’m at in the numbers game.

“I know as we go through the ballots (at the leadership convention) I get to talk to every delegate on why I should have their support. It’s about the economy and there is not one candidate that can do that better than me.”

She admitted aggressively seeking McGuinty’s support, but the premier steered clear Wednesday of backing anyone in the race to replace him.

“I’m proud of the accomplished stable of candidates that are seeking leadership of our party,” he said. “I recall a short while ago the story was nobody wants the job. Now we have the magnificent seven as I like to call them.

“They all bring tremendous experience in politics and life. They understand our fiscal and political challenges. I’m very pleased at the calibre of candidates that have stepped forward.”

Pupatello’s mentor was Gray, who recalled Wednesday “like it was yesterday” of her being a high school student at Kennedy and being one of his student volunteers.

“I have followed her career with a great deal of excitement and I look forward to her success,” he said of her leadership bid. “I’m giving her my full support.”

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